Readers' comments

One word - LEGALIZATION!!! Imagine all the tax money from legalized drugs directed towards educating our youth on the dangers of drugs (just as we do with tobacco and spirits). Take the revenues from the criminals and take them out of the equation. The alternative to legalization, and what is the current general world policy (particularly in the US), is to forfeit these revenues and the future of our children to criminal structures. How can we contiune to be so stupid!?!?

Don't bother to eradicate it, just buy it and sell it to the pharmaceutical industry. I mean how much can it really cost just to buy the entire Afghan opium crop, about $4 Billion. That is just peanuts in comparison to the $600 Billion of the Iraq war. How much does the US or EU spend on farm subsidies?

There will always be a demand for such produce and the question isn't how to stop or limit the industry it's how can i get a piece of that? Predominantly throughout history, before the industry was internationally monopolised, it has been the chinese elite who have profited most from opium trade via exploiting the "golden triangle". Now, after the western-led invasion of Afghanistan, the vast majority of opium is produced there, giving the american, british etc elite who are profiting most and enjoying the monopoly of one of the largest industries in the world. The "war on drugs" is not meant to be won, just like the "war on terror".

the global recession is worsing, the avenues for the internaitonal community takes are not only towards the economical downturn, more importantly , the action to handle regional issues also particularly urgent. this requires international corporation on this level and aid to the Laos facing the economic difficulties from the aid institutions such as internaional funds and The UN food and farm agency .

Practically speaking, coming to the demand side of the equation, what is required are completely legal and taxed (buyers and sellers) in specially set aside 'free-trade zones' within Western cities. The right legislation will mitigate the fallout into 'normal' society.

Sooner or later it will have to come to this since the money is simply just too good for law enforcement to overcome. And moreover this surfeit of drug capital is falling into the 'wrong' hands and will poison the market economy in the long term. For those in the know, the drugs 'weapon' is also being used covertly by the forces against the pro-Israeli Western Countries.

It is an age-old problem, so it may need an age-old solution, especially in the current economic climate. One of the worse affected countries in the West economically is Britain; it is in a desperate financial situation. So now is a good time for Britain to adopt the same solution it used so successfully many years ago when the country was short of money to buy what it needed. Britain should re-establish the British East Indian Company. It should buy up all the opium from the region (on credit of course) and ship them all to China. To make sure the Chinese will take all the opium, the British navy should sent all their ships to safeguard the precious cargo, ensure safe passage and Chinese compliance. It should be an easy task for the British as they have done it all before.

This is a perfect solution, there will be potentially a huge market for it (as it was in the past, only now it is MUCH larger), it will solve Britain’s financial problems, and the West will be able to take over China to run it as a ‘civilised’ society (after all, colony is such an old-fashioned word). Just imaging, Britain could be ‘Great’ again…

Then I woke-up. It has all been a dream, but the problems largely created by the British in the Golden Triangle are still there, and as reported here, is getting worse. However, the world has changed.

The instability in the world economy and inappropriate distribution of wealth among nations are two biggest reasons for opium and drugs trade. Thirdly the international terrorism and failed states add to it. Current recession is affecting the poor countries more worsely then the developed ones, as the source of income have got strained. This leads to alternatives for higher incomes among less developed nations leading to production and cultivation of toxic substances.

More over the current increase in international terrorism and war in Afghanistan & Iraq and instable conditions in Pakistan and African continent also paving bumper opportunities for demand and supply of drugs. The rate at which the failed states are increasing, have a direct impact on booming drugs business.

The fact that sale of drugs generate huge profits in developed nations and for the elite class, always misinterprets the equation of demand and supply. The profits generated may be more by selling drugs to developed nations but that doesn't means that the volume consumed is also more. The failed states and terrorism are the biggest consumers themselves of the drugs, although the profits may not be generated. There it is always a volume game.